Adjustable fluid passage



uEmily 1'7, 1951 R. s. COLLEY ADJUSTABLE FLUID PASSAGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 59, 1946 July H7, R951 R 5, COLLEY 2,56%634 ADJUSTABLE FLUID PASSAGE Filed Sept. 59, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 17, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE FLUID'PASSAGE Russell S. Colley, Kent, Ohio, assignor to The B. F- Goodrich Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 30, 1946; Serial No. 700,284

16 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for the passage of fluid and especially to Venturi tubes wherein it is desirable to provide means for varying the throat area thereof especially while the venturi is being used. In testing such objects be adhered to the tube l-as by a vulcanized bond. The tube 15 is mounted in a collar [6 the outer periphery of which abuts the inner surface of the sleeve 1 l and is secured to the sleeve H by bolts H which also fasten radially extending as projectiles and aircraft in wind tunnels where 6 bracket members 18 to the sleeve l I. The bracket the air velocity approaches. and exceeds the speed members; it supportv motor mounting members 0f sound it is desirable that the Venturi tubes be [:9 extending longitudinally of the sleeve H and capable of large as well as fine adjustments of having portions mounted on t interlocking the contour during operation for controlling the 10 member i4.

air fiow. Not only is it desirable to have highly The lining ill has integral projections such as refined adjustments of the venturi for obtaining ribs 21 at spaced-apart positions circumferena variety of Venturi shapes of known charactially of the lining and extending longitudinally teristics', but provisions for adjustment are also of the lining t t Outer Surface thereof- The desirable for studying the efiects of variation in ribs 2'! have reinforcing members 22, 22 embedded the shapes upon the flow of air at high velocities longitudinally in the ribs and reinforcing fabric- Objects of the invention are to provide imlike material 23 embedded at thesurface of the proved regulation of the flow of fluid in a passage, ribs and overlapp and embedded in the to provide for improved adjustment of the form jacent Surface of the lining of the venturi during operation, to provide for 2Q Reinforcin blocks 24 are disposed between the facilitating flow of fluid, to provide adjustability r inf rcing m mb rs 2-2, 2 a p e p r posiof the throat area and form of the entire, passage t o longitudinally of the rihs- Additional t oughout a wide range and to provide for herence between the ribs and lining and Within venience and effectiveness of operation. the ribs 2i y h attained'by bonding rein- Further objects are to provide a Venturi tube 25 forcing material 23' to the ribs and to the overwith an improved arrangement for adjusting the lapped surfaces of the lining t0 and by bonding throat area and contour thereof, and to provide the reinforcing members 22 to the resilient maa Venturi tube with refined adjustment for terial of the lining H and ribs 2| as by vulcanizameeting the requirements of Wind tunnels where tiOn- The bonding p s Strength 0f attachthe velocity of the air approaches or exceeds the ment of the ribs 2| t0 the lining and at the Same speed of soundtimeprovides effective-distribution of the stresses These andfuther objects will be apparent from mp p n the ri v r ad c nt p r i the following description, reference being d of the linin ill to provide a substantially smooth to the dra in i hioh; inner surface of the lining, Iii;

Fig. I isia section in elevation of the apparatus The ribs 2 I, may have ap u s 25 in the reinconstructed in accordance with and embodying forcing ks 24 f r r vin cotter p ns whi the" invention, parts being broken away, the secp through apertures in Shackles 7 Which tion: being taken at a position i d t by t straddle the ribs for securing the shackles to the line of Fig. 2, ribs. Each shackle 21 is threaded upon a strut- 2 19% section taken along the line 2-2 of like adjusting element connection such as stud Fig. 1, parts b ing broken away, 28 and is prevented from turning on the stud by Fig. 3 is a detailed view of the adjusting elea p n 9 w h pass s thr h ap t s in h ments, parts being sectioned and broken away. stud and the shackle. Each stud 28 extends Fig. 4 is a section taken along line 4-4 of Fi radially from the lining l0 and has a sleeve 3| parts being broken away. threaded on the outermost end. The sleeve 3| is Fig. 5'is a section taken along line 5 -5 of Fig 3, mounted in a socket member32 which is mounted With reference to the drawings, t b l rotatably in an aperture in the flanged sleeve ll. throat lining H) of resilient material u h as b- Flanged projections 33 of sleeve 3| fit into slots her or other rubber-like material is mounted in Of Socket 32 and'are held there y a cap member asupporting housing structure such as flanged 30 threaded on the socket thereby preventing sleeve ll. One end of the throat lining in h a, relative movement of the sleeve 3i with relation flared portion which has a radially extending to the socket 32. tenonl2 which is mounted in a mortise formed A washer 34 mounted on the socket at the inner by anannular ring member [3 and an interlockp r p ry of th sleeve II and a sh uld r of the in member M, the latter of which is interposed socket t he outer periphery of the ev ll between the flange of sleeve H and the annular prevent movement other than rotational movering member. A portion of the lining in at the ment of the socket 32 relative to the sleeve. The other end is overlapped by a tube l5 which exsocket 32 extends radiallyoutward from the tends into a circumferential axially extending sleeve H and has gear teeth 35 disposed as on a slot in the edge of the lining. The lining It) may 0 pinion. The sockets: 3-2.: may be disposed at spaced-apart positions circumferentially of the sleeve and arranged in sets, each set being disposed iri a plane transverse of the axis of the sleeve and parallel to the plane of the other sets forming a series of sets longitudinally of the sleeve as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.

Ring gears 36 may be mounted slidably about the sleeve member H and disposed so that each gear 36 will engage the gear teeth 35 of a set of sockets 32. Each ring gear 36 engages a driving pinion 3! which is mounted on a shaft 38 turning in a bearing 39 mounted in sleeve H and turned by a suitable source of power such as motor unit 4|. The driving pinions may be disposed at staggered positions circumferentially of the sleeve II in a manner such that the motor units 4| may be mounted on the mounting members I9 which are disposed at spaced-apart positions radially outward and circumferentially of the sleeve ll. Static pressure tubes 42 may be mounted in the lining It at spaced-apart positions longitudinally of the lining open to the inner wall surface of the lining and connected by flexible tubes 43 to pressure gauges 44 which indicate the pressure in the throat at such position.

In operation, to expand the lining H) for increasing the throat area motors 4| are actuated to turn shafts 38, and as shown in Fig. 3 to turn shaft 38 in such a direction that the pinion 3'! willmove the ring gear 36 in a clockwise direction. The ring gear 36 will then turn the socket 32 in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. causing the threaded sleeve 3| to rotate about the stud 28 and urge the stud radially outward and thereby urge the portion of the lining wall adjacent the stud radially outward.

Each set of sockets 32 which mesh with the ring gears 36 will be turned simultaneously and move the corresponding studs radially outward and thereby uniformly increase the outer periphery of the lining. The ribs are spaced in close proximity to each other and the shackles 21 and studs 28 are disposed in sets at close intervals longitudinally of the sleeve II. This arrangement in conjunction with the stress-distributing property of the relatively thick radial cross-section of the lining tends to distribute the stresses imposed upon the lining I0 in a manner such that the inner wall of the lining ID will remain substantially smooth and cylindrical in the adjustment r range of the venturi.

The lining II] in the unstressed condition assumes an inner wall shape as shown in Fig. 1 by dot-dash lines. In use the minimum area at which the venturi is used is that with the lining It] in tension for obtaining firmness of the wall surface. In Fig. 1 the lining shown in full lines is in a position intermediate the maximum and minimum throat area positions of the venturi.

To reduce the throat area of the lining ID the shafts 38 are turned in the opposite direction from that used for increasing the throat area and the studs 28 are moved outwardly permitting the resilient material of the lining It! to move toward the unstressed position and thereby contract the lining.

Each motor unit 4| independently actuates a set of sockets and thereby may move an annular portion of the lining disposed transversely of the axis. In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings there are 16 motors arranged in a manner such that 16 adjacent portions of the lining may be adjustably dilated and contracted to obtain a variety of Venturi contours. A greater or smaller number of motor units 4| may be used to obtain a greater or lesser degree of adjustments of the venturi.

The adjustments of the venturi are not objectionably affected by the flow of fluid through the venturi and may be made at any time. It is not necessary to stop the flow of fluid to change the Venturi shape.

Variations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as it is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A fluid passage comprising a housing structure, a flexible, stretchable, circumferentially continuous lining tube disposed in said structure for use in the stretched condition, a plurality of elements interposed between said structure and said tube, means for mounting said elements on said lining in attached relation thereto and means for moving said elements inward and outward relative to said structure for stretching and flexing said lining to vary the contour thereof.

2. A fluid passage comprising a housing structure, a flexible, stretchable, circumferentially continuous lining tube disposed in said structure, a plurality of elements interposed between said structure and said tube, means for mounting said elements on said tube in attached relation thereto, and means for moving a group of said elements simultaneously relative to said structure for flexing said tube to vary the contour thereof.

3. A fluid passage comprising a supporting structure, a circumferentially continuous lining tube of resilient, stretchable material inside said structure, means for connecting said lining and said structure at a plurality of spaced-apart positions circumferentially and longitudinally of the lining tube and means for adjusting said firstmentioned means to vary the contour of said lining tube.

4. A fluid passage comprising a supporting structure, a circumferentially continuous lining tube of resilient, stretchable material inside said structure, connections between said structure and said lining, said connections being disposed in a series of sets at spaced-apart positions longitudinally of said lining tube, the connections of said sets including means for adjusting the same simultaneously for adjusting each set independently of the other of said sets to change the area of the interior cross-section of said lining.

5. A fluid passage comprising a supporting structure, a circumferentially continuous lining tube of resilient, stretchablematerial inside said structure, connections between said structure and said lining tube, said connections being disposedm a series of sets at spaced-apart positions longitudinally of said lining tube, the connections of each set being disposed at spaced-apart positions circumferentially of said lining tube, said sets including means for adjustably flexing said lining to vary the contour of the passage.

6. A fluid passage comprising a supporting structure, a circumferentially continuous lining tube of resilient, stretchable material inside said structure, means connecting said lining and said structure at a plurality of spaced-apart positions circumferentially and longitudinally of said lining tube, and means for moving a portion of said lining away from an opposite portion of the passage to vary the contour of said lining tube.

'7. A fluid passage comprising a supporting structure, a circumferentially continuous lining tube of resilient, stretchable material inside said structure, connections between said structure and" said lining, said connections being disposed in a series of sets at spaced-apart positions longitudinally of said lining tube, the connections of each said sets. including means for adjusting the same simultaneously and for adjusting each set independently of the other of said sets to distend and urge a portion of said lining away from an opposite portion of said lining to change the in terior cross-sectional area of said lining tube.

8. A fluid passage comprising a housing structure, a lining tube of resilient material inside said structure, means supporting said lining tube interposed between said structure and said tube comprising connections between said tube and said structure at spaced-apart positions along and about said tube, including means for adjusting said connections to urge a portion of said tube at the outer surface thereof away from an opposite portion of said tube by distension of said tube, said tube being of substantial thickness such that a substantial smooth interior surface is maintained despite the connections at spaced-apart positions along the outer surface thereof.

9. A fluid passage comprising a sleeve, a flexible lining disposed in said sleeve, a plurality of elements interposed between said sleeve and said lining, said lining comprising a resilient, rubberlike tube, a projection extending radially from the outer circumference of said lining, a reinforcing member embedded in said projection, reinforcing fabric-like material embedded in said projection, said projection having apertures therein, means for mounting said elements on said projection including an element disposed in said apertures and means for moving each said element relative to said sleeve to change the contour of said lining.

10. A fluid passage comprising a sleeve, a flexible lining disposed in said sleeve, a plurality of studs interposed between said sleeve and said lining, means for mounting said studs on said lining, means for moving a group of said studs simultaneously relative to said sleeve to change the contour of said lining, the moving means comprising sockets threaded on each said stud and rotatably mounted in said sleeve for turning movement, pinion members mounted on each of said sockets, a ring gear mounted rotatably about said sleeve and engaging said pinions to turn them simultaneously when said ring gear is turned about said sleeve.

11. A fluid passage comprising a sleeve, a flexible lining disposed in said sleeve and mounted on said sleeve at the edges, a plurality of studs interposed between said sleeve and said lining, said lining comprising a resilient tube of rubber-like material, projections extending radially from the outer circumference of said lining, reinforcing members embedded in said projections, reinforcing fabric-like material embedded in and at the outer surface of said projections, said projections havin apertures therein, means for mounting said studs on said projections including elements in said apertures, means for moving each said stud relative to said sleeve to change the contour of said lining comprising sockets threaded on each said stud and rotatably mounted in said sleeve for turning movement, pinion members mounted on each said socket and ring gears mounted rotatably about said sleeve and engaging said pinions to turn them when said ring gears are turned about said sleeve.

12. A fluid passage comprising a housing structure, a flexible, stretchable, circumferentially continuous lining tube disposed in said structure for use in the stretched condition, a plurality of elements interposed between said structure and said tube, means for mounting said elements on said lining "in attached relation thereto and means for moving said elements inward and outward relative to said structure for stretching said lining tube and adjusting the contour thereof, said elements comprising struts to maintain the adjusted contour of said tube despite fluid forces upon the tube.

13. A fluid passage comprising a housing struc ture, a lining tube of resilient material inside said structure, means supporting said lining tube interposed between said structure and said tube comprising connections between said tube and said structure at spaced-apart positions along and about said tube, including means for adjusting said connections to urge portions of said tube at the outer surface thereof away from opposite portions of said tube by distension of said tube, said tube being of substantial thickness such that a substantially smooth interior surface is maintained despite the connections at spaced-apart positions along the outer surface thereof, said connections comprising struts to maintain the adjusted position of said tube despite fluid forces upon the tube.

14. A fluid passage comprising a supporting structure, a Wall of resilient material inside said structure for use in the stretched condition, a plurality of elements interposed between said structure and said wall, said elements being attached to said wall at a plurality of spaced-apart positions, and means for adjusting said elements inward and outward to stretch and vary the contour of said wall.

15. A fluid passage comprising a supporting structure, a wall of resilient material inside said structure for use in the stretched condition, a plurality of elements interposed between said structure and said wall, said elements being attached to said wall at a plurality of spaced-apart positions circumferentially and longitudinally of the passage and means for adjusting said elements inward and outward to stretch and vary the contour of said wall.

16. A fluid passage comprising a supporting structure, a wall of resilient material inside said structure, a plurality of elements interposed between said structure and said wall, said elements being attached to said wall in a series of sets at spaced-apart positions longitudinally of said passage, and means for adjusting the elements of one set simultaneously and for adjusting each set independently of the other of said sets to vary the contour of said wall and the cross-sectional area of the fluid passage.

RUSSELL S. COLLE Y.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,241,086 Gould May 6, 1941 2,253,586 Serkau Aug. 26, 1941 2,424,654 Gamble July 29, 1947 2,434,835 Colley Jan. 20, 1948 

